CN100442588C - Connecting devices for receiving and delivering liquids - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses a connection device for receiving and delivering liquid. By simplifying the structure of the connection piece, it can realize the reduction of the number of parts, small size and low-cost manufacturing, and it is not affected by the level of internal pressure, even under very wide conditions. No liquid leakage occurs, no contamination of the internal liquid, simple and reliable connection. The connection device for liquid receiving and transporting of the present invention is a liquid receiving and transporting device that connects a liquid reservoir (1) containing liquid and a liquid receptor (4) containing liquid from the liquid reservoir (1). A connecting device, wherein either the liquid reservoir (1) or the liquid receptor (4) or the connecting part of the two is at least composed of a valve (11) provided with a flow channel and an elastic body member provided with a hole (6) ( 3a, 3b), having a structure in which the valve (11) is embedded or clipped into the hole (6).

Description

Connecting devices for receiving and delivering liquids

technical field

The present invention relates to a connection device for receiving and delivering liquid used in liquid supply devices such as fuel cells and inkjet printers, for introducing liquid from a liquid reservoir into a receiver for receiving liquid.

Background technique

At present, on products such as inkjet printers, liquid fuel lighters, and medical liquid injections, a detachable liquid supply is used between a liquid reservoir that stores and discharges liquid and a liquid receptor that introduces liquid from this liquid reservoir. The device method has become widely popular. This liquid supply device can directly replace the liquid reservoir itself when the supplied liquid is insufficient. Therefore, compared with methods such as directly supplying the liquid to the reservoir built in the main body, the liquid can be replenished more safely and easily without getting hands dirty with the liquid. It is a very effective liquid supply device especially when using a supply liquid that has adverse effects on the human body or a liquid that deteriorates rapidly when it comes into contact with external air.

In addition, recently, the development of fuel cells that use liquid as fuel to generate electricity is in-depth, especially the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) that uses methanol as fuel. With the participation of many motor manufacturers, its development work is attracting great attention , People are looking forward to the next generation of new batteries used in notebook computers, various portable electronic devices, mobile phones, etc. However, under normal circumstances, methanol has a great impact on the human body. If it is inhaled, it will damage the central nervous system, causing dizziness and diarrhea. Moreover, when a large amount of it is inhaled or enters the eyes, it can also cause optic nerve disturbance and cause blindness. It is a highly dangerous toxic liquid. Therefore, even in DMFC, it is considered that providing a liquid reservoir as a component without directly handling methanol is the best method of supplying fuel for general needs safely and easily. Extensive developments are being made on such methods (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-308871, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-12301, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-317756, etc.).

For said liquid supply device, there must be a detachable liquid receiving and conveying connection means for guiding the liquid from the liquid reservoir to the liquid receiver. As the connecting device of the prior art, can enumerate: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-789, Japanese Patent Application No. 8-50042, Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-528699, Japanese Patent No. 2003-266739, Japanese Patent No. 2001-524896, Japanese Patent No. 2000-289225, JP 7-68780, JP 5-254138, JP 2003-331879, etc.

However, no matter what kind of connecting device, the structure becomes complicated due to the large number of parts, which restricts the miniaturization and cost reduction of the product. In addition, since there is a structure in which a valve is opened when the internal pressure of the liquid reservoir or the receptor rises, it becomes a structure that is prone to liquid leakage. Therefore, there is a great need for a connection device that has a simple connection structure, does not leak liquid even when the internal pressure rises, and can be easily attached and detached. In particular, for a DMFC considered to be applied to a portable electronic device, it may be considered that a connection part that can be reduced from the size of the current portable electronic device to a minimum of 103 mm ³ is required. In addition, in one of the examples cited above, when both the liquid reservoir and the liquid receptor are nested, a spring is installed in the passage through which the liquid flows. Elution in the medium, so there is a problem of liquid contamination. Even in DMFC, it can be considered that the elution of metal ions will cause degradation of catalysts, conductive materials, electrolyte membranes, etc. that constitute the main material of DMFC, and the decrease in electrochemical reaction efficiency will affect the characteristics of DMFC.

Contents of the invention

In view of the problems existing in the existing devices, the purpose of the present invention is to simplify the structure of the connector, provide a small number of parts, be small-sized, low-cost manufacturing, and not be affected by the level of internal pressure, and can be used under a wide range of conditions. A connection device for receiving and delivering liquid that does not leak, does not pollute the internal liquid, and is simple and reliable. And as a result of intensive research around this goal, it is considered that the following content can solve the above-mentioned problems.

The present invention relates to a connection device for receiving and delivering liquid. In the above-mentioned connection device for receiving and delivering liquid that connects a liquid reservoir for storing liquid and a liquid receptor for receiving liquid from the above-mentioned liquid reservoir, it has the following structure, The connecting part of either or both of the liquid reservoir and the liquid receptor includes at least a valve with a flow channel and an elastic body with a hole, and the valve is embedded or snapped into the hole, and the elastic body is The connecting surface has a convex and curved structure. When the valve and the elastic body are in contact, the liquid is sealed. When the elastic body is deformed, the valve and the elastic body that are in contact with each other are separated to form a gap. The liquid flows in the above-mentioned gap and the flow channel of the above-mentioned valve, wherein the above-mentioned valve is crimped on the above-mentioned elastic body by using a pressing device.

In the connection device for receiving and delivering liquid according to the present invention, the opposite surface of the connecting surface of the elastic body may have a concave and curved structure.

In the connecting device for receiving and delivering the liquid involved in the present invention, radial grooves can also be formed on the valve as a liquid flow channel on the butt surface of the elastic body and the valve.

In the connecting device for receiving and delivering liquid involved in the present invention, the connecting surface of the elastic body may also have a labyrinth seal.

In addition, in the connection device for receiving and delivering liquid according to the present invention, at the contact surface between the elastic body and the valve, either or both of the elastic body or the valve may have a labyrinth seal.

In addition, the above-mentioned liquid receiver may be a fuel cell that uses liquid as fuel to generate electricity, and the above-mentioned liquid storage may be used as a liquid fuel cartridge.

In addition, in the connection device for receiving and transporting liquid according to the present invention, a liquid containing at least methanol can be used as the fuel used in the above-mentioned fuel cell.

In addition, in the connection device for receiving and delivering liquids involved in the present invention, the infusion flow rate of the above-mentioned connection piece can be less than or equal to 100ml/hr.

The connection device for receiving and transporting liquid according to the present invention has the following effects due to the above-mentioned structure.

Compared with the existing products, the connecting device for liquid receiving and conveying involved in the present invention simplifies the structure and reduces the number of parts, so the miniaturization and cost reduction of the product can be realized. In addition, the size of the connecting piece of the present invention can be freely designed according to the design idea of the device involved in the present invention, and a size smaller than or equal to 103 mm ³ can be realized. In addition, only the connection surface on one side of the liquid reservoir is connected to the liquid receptor, and after the elastic body is deformed, the valve is opened to form a flow path, and then the liquid in the liquid reservoir can be easily received and delivered to the liquid receptor. . At the same time, the higher the pressure in the liquid reservoir or the liquid receptor container, the stronger the sealing between the valve and the elastic body, and the more difficult it is for the liquid to leak. At the same time, by adopting a pressing device, by crimping the valve and the elastic body, it is possible to realize a connection device with high reliability for preventing liquid leakage even in a container under low pressure.

In addition, since the connection surface of the elastic body is curved and convex and the connecting surface of the valve and the elastic body is curved and concave, the reliability of the valve opening can be improved.

The connector can also be used for a liquid fuel cartridge of a fuel cell that uses liquid as fuel to generate electricity. In the connecting device for receiving and delivering liquid of the present invention, the flow of the receiving and delivering liquid can be controlled through the design of the flow path of the valve. According to this method, the liquid delivery flow rate can be limited to 100 ml/hr or less, so that an appropriate amount of liquid can be supplied in small amounts at a time. If this connector is used for a fuel cell, it can also suppress the oversupply of liquid fuel, especially when it is used for DMFC with methanol as fuel, it can prevent overlap (the liquid of the fuel is not on the fuel electrode in the fuel cell). The reaction occurs and the electrolyte directly flows into the effect of the phenomenon). Therefore, the connecting device according to the present invention is most suitable as a connecting device part of a fuel cell of a fuel cell, especially a fuel cell in which a liquid is used as a fuel.

The connection device for receiving and delivering the liquid involved in the present invention is not only used for the above-mentioned fuel cell, but also can be installed on the ink cartridge and the container for liquid medicine injection, so as to receive and deliver the liquid from one container to another. The connection device for the purpose of the container can be applied to various purposes. In particular, it is considered to be an effective device as a connection device for small devices with a small infusion fluid flow rate.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a liquid reservoir of a connection device for receiving and delivering a liquid.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a liquid receptor of the connection device for receiving and delivering liquid.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where a liquid reservoir is connected to a liquid receptor.

Figure 4 shows a front view of the elastomeric body of the connection means for a fluid reservoir or fluid receptor.

Figure 5 shows a side view of the elastomeric body of the connection means for the fluid reservoir or fluid receptor.

Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the elastomeric body of the connection means for the fluid reservoir or fluid receptor.

Fig. 7 shows a front view of the valve.

Figure 8 shows a side view of the valve.

Fig. 9 shows the A-A sectional view of the valve.

Fig. 10 shows a B-B sectional view of the valve.

Fig. 11 shows the connecting device formed by the combination of the elastic body and the valve.

FIG. 12 shows the state before connection in the connection process.

FIG. 13 shows the state at the time of connection in the connection process.

Detailed ways

Referring to Fig. 1 to Fig. 13, an embodiment of the connection device for receiving and transporting liquid according to the present invention will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to the examples shown below. In addition, in this embodiment, the present invention is applied to both the liquid reservoir and the liquid receptor (receiver) for illustration. In actual application, the two can be used separately or not at the same time.

The liquid reservoir 1 of the liquid receiving and delivery connection device involved in the embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 1, and the liquid receptor 4 involved in the embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 2, the liquid reservoir 1 and the liquid receptor 4 The state of the connection is shown in Figure 3. However, the liquid reservoir 1 is a methanol fuel cartridge for DMFC, and encloses a 3% by weight methanol aqueous solution. Furthermore, a DMFC main body (product number 6061, manufactured by Avery Co., Ltd.) is built in the liquid receptor 4 .

When the liquid in the liquid reservoir 1 is supplied to the liquid receiver 4, it is used in the state shown in FIG. 3 . The inside of the liquid reservoir 1 is in a state filled with liquid in advance. In order to infuse liquid from the liquid reservoir 1 to the liquid receptor 4, a connection part 2 for infusion is provided on the side of the liquid reservoir 1, and a connection part 2 for infusion is provided on the side of the liquid receptor 4. A connecting portion 5 for receiving liquid is then provided.

The shapes of the liquid reservoir 1 and the liquid receiving member 4 are not limited to these illustrations, and various shapes can be adopted. In addition, in this embodiment, four positions are used to represent the connection part 5 on the liquid receiving side of the liquid receptor 4, and the connection part 5 on the liquid receiving side can be increased or decreased according to different uses and in combination with the necessary supply amount. The quantity, also can increase or decrease the quantity of the liquid reservoir 1 that can assemble.

Fig. 4～Fig. 6 shows the elastic body 3a that is used for the connection device of liquid reservoir 1 or liquid receptor 4, Fig. 7 ~ Fig. 10 shows valve 11, Fig. 11 shows the connection device that elastic body 3a, 3b and valve 11 combine, 12 and 13 show the connection process of this embodiment.

For the elastic body 3a, 3b (elastic body 3a and 3b, as described below, only the position of the labyrinth seal 7a and 7b is different), it is installed on the opposite side of the connection, that is, the liquid reservoir 1 or the liquid receptor 4 When, preferably have the hole 6 that can nest fit valve 11 in its inner side, and be the material that elastic deformation can take place although preferably.

ゴム)、四氯乙烯(テトラフロロエチレン)甲基乙烯醚系橡胶、氟硅系橡胶、表氯醇橡胶、多硫化橡胶、聚氨酯橡胶和天然橡胶等等，可以用这些材料中的一种或者两种混合使用。对于弹性体3a、3b，最好根据输送液体的特性、弹性体的抖动特性、耐久压缩应变特性、回弹、耐溶性等等来选择。此次，因为是用于DMFC，则用了耐甲醇性、耐久压缩应变特性优异的乙烯-丙烯橡胶。As a material of the elastic bodies 3a and 3b, various known elastic materials such as various rubbers and synthetic rubbers can be used. Specifically, styrene-butadiene rubber, butadiene rubber, syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene, isoprene rubber, acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, neoprene rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber , ethylene-propylene terpolymer, isobutyl rubber, acrylate rubber, sulfonated polyethylene, silicone rubber, fluorinated vinylidene rubber, tetrachloroethylene propylene rubber

ゴム), tetrachloroethylene (Tetrafloroethilen) methyl vinyl ether rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber, polyvulcanized rubber, polyurethane rubber and natural rubber, etc., one or both of these materials can be used Mixed use. As for the elastic bodies 3a, 3b, it is preferable to select them according to the characteristics of the liquid to be transported, the vibration characteristics of the elastic body, the durable compression strain characteristics, the resilience, the solvent resistance, and the like. This time, because it is used in DMFC, ethylene-propylene rubber with excellent methanol resistance and durable compression strain characteristics is used.

The elastic bodies 3a and 3b of this embodiment, as shown in Figures 4 to 6, have a structure with holes 6. In this embodiment, the connecting surface is made to expand outwards into a curved shape, and the opposite surface of the connecting surface (Inner surface) Concave and curved structure. This is to facilitate deformation of the elastic bodies 3a, 3b with respect to the connection direction. In addition, the elastic body 3a, 3b preferably has at least a hole 6, and it is not limited to the structure that the connecting surface will expand into a curved shape, or the inner surface of the connecting surface will be concave into a curved shape, and both may be flat, and the connecting surface may be Concave, the inner side of the connection surface is convex.

A convex labyrinth seal 7a is provided on the connecting surface. As long as this labyrinth sealing strip has a protruding structure for the connecting surface, as far as this embodiment is concerned, the cross section of the protruding part is in a semicircular shape, however, an inverted V shape or a quadrangular shape is also OK, and its shape is not special. limited. The same applies to the labyrinth seals described below. The wing-shaped elastic bodies 3a and 3b only have different positions of the labyrinth seals 7a and 7b. Relying on such a design, it is possible to prevent liquid leakage between the connection surfaces when the connection is made (and to obtain higher reliability). However, when the connection is performed, if the butt pressure of the pair of connection surfaces is high, the adhesiveness between the elastic body and the material to be connected will also be high, so the labyrinth seal 7a or 7b may not be provided in some cases. The labyrinth seal 7a or 7b can be designed according to the connection conditions, the material of the elastic bodies 3a, 3b, etc., and corresponding to the situation of liquid leakage.

In order to be assembled on the liquid reservoir 1 or the liquid receptor 4 , the elastic body of this embodiment is provided with a flange 8 . The flange 8 should be assembled on the principle that the assembly site of the liquid reservoir 1 or the liquid receiver 4 does not cause liquid leakage. In addition, in order to prevent liquid leakage at the assembling part, the elastic body 3a or 3b and the main body of the liquid reservoir 1 or liquid receptor 4 can also be produced by insert molding, two-color molding and other integrated molding processes.

In addition, in order to improve the reliability of preventing liquid leakage at the joints of the valve 11 and the elastic bodies 3a and 3b, a pressing device is used to press the valve 11 on the elastic bodies 3a or 3b. For this reason, in the case of the elastic body 3a or 3b of the present embodiment, the spring seat 9 of the spring 10 serving as pressing means is formed in the elastic body 3a or 3b. However, if the spring seat 9 is arranged on the main (basket) body side of the liquid reservoir 1 or the liquid receptor 4 when designing the pressing device, it is not necessary to set the spring seat 9 in the elastic body 3a or 3b.

Secondly, the valve 11 only needs to be able to engage or engage with the hole portion 6 of the elastic body 3a or 3b, form a liquid flow channel therein, and have a material and a shape that can be connected with the elastic body 3a or 3b. As the material of the valve 11, metal, plastic, wood, ceramics, etc. can be used, preferably metal and plastic.

Specifically, examples of the metal include stainless steel, aluminum, iron, copper, silver, platinum, and gold. Examples of plastics include polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride resin, polystyrene, ABS resin, methacrylic (ester) resin, polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide, polycarbonate, polycondensate, etc. Aldehydes, polyphenylene ethers, polyphenylene sulfides, liquid crystal polymers, polysulfones, polyethersulfones, polyarylates, polyether ketones, polyphthalates Diimide, polyimide, polyetherimide, polyamideimide, polymethylpentene, fluororesin, polyvinylidene fluoride, TEFE, PFA, phenol resin, urea resin, Melamine resin, unsaturated polyester, diallyl phthalate resin, epoxy resin, polyurethane resin, silicone resin, etc. As far as this embodiment is concerned, considering that it is used in DMFC, polypropylene with good methanol resistance is used for both.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 , the valve 11 of this embodiment has a partially protruding structure. This protruding part is engaged or clamped with the hole part 6 of the elastic body 3a or 3b. When crimping or clamping, it can also be affixed, glued, assembled or inserted. In addition, in this embodiment, there is a notch 13 on the protruding part, and a groove 12 on the surface contacting the elastic body 3a or 3b. In this way, when the valve 11 is opened, the cut groove 13 and the groove 12 become the flow path of the liquid. In addition, the surface in contact with the elastic body 3a or 3b is curved in a swollen shape in order to closely contact the surface of the elastic body 3a or 3b that is bent into a dimple inside. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the way of adding labyrinth seals 7a, 7b is the same as that of preventing the leakage of the above-mentioned connection surface, in order to prevent the leakage of the valve 11 opening, the valve 11 is also connected with the elastic body 3a or 3b. A labyrinth seal 17 has been added at the joint face.

As shown in FIG. 11, the connecting device composed of the elastic body 3a or 3b and the valve 11 is installed on the liquid reservoir 1 or the liquid receiver 4 by the flange 8 of the connecting device. The convex portion of the valve 11 is fitted into the portion of the hole 6 on the opposite side (inner side) of the contacting side of the elastic body 3a or 3b. In this embodiment, the spring 10 is used as a pressing device, so that the valve 11 is crimped on the elastic body 3a or 3b. The part where the elastic body 3a or 3b connects with the valve 11 prevents the liquid contained therein from flowing out. In addition, although the spring 10 is used as the pressing device in this embodiment, any known pressing device can be used as long as it can press the valve 11 against the elastic body 3a or 3b. In addition, in this embodiment, although the connecting device composed of the elastic body and the valve is installed on the liquid reservoir or the liquid receptor (receiver) through its flange, those skilled in the art should understand that the connecting device It can also be connected between the liquid reservoir and the liquid receptor, or the connecting device is only arranged on one of the liquid reservoir and the liquid receptor, and the other is not provided with the connecting device. technology seals the junction of the connecting device with the fluid reservoir or fluid receptor.

As shown in Figure 13, the elastic bodies 3a and 3b are deformed by making the connecting surfaces contact each other, the connected valve 11 is separated from the elastic body 3a or 3b, the joint part disappears, and the liquid passes through the gap and the groove 13 of the valve. , Groove 12 and flow through.

In addition, when the connecting devices are separated from each other, the elastic bodies 3a and 3b return to the state before the connection, and the valve 11 is connected to the elastic bodies 3a or 3b again, and the valve 11 is closed to seal the contained liquid.

In the state of FIG. 13 , the internal pressure of the liquid reservoir 1 was 5 kPa, and when the inside of the liquid receptor 4 was open to the atmosphere, the infusion volume flowing from the liquid reservoir 1 to the liquid receptor 4 was checked. As a result, the infusion volume It is 50ml per hour. Furthermore, driving the DMFC in this state results in an output power of 30 milliwatts.

In addition, when the liquid reservoir 1 was detached from the liquid receptor 4 from the state of FIG. 13 , neither the liquid reservoir 1 nor the liquid receptor 4 had any leakage. Furthermore, the pressure inside the liquid reservoir 1 and the liquid receptor 4 was increased from 1 kPa to 1 MPa to check for liquid leakage, and no liquid leakage occurred at all within this pressure range.

From the above, the connection device for receiving and transferring liquid of this embodiment has the performance of being able to transfer liquid without leakage under any circumstances. In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the volume of the elastic body sealing member is 225mm ³ , which can achieve smaller miniaturization than conventional connection devices for receiving and delivering liquid. Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to be applied as a connection device for receiving and transporting liquids such as portable electrical equipment using DMFC as an energy source in the future.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments, various modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. Various modifications, changes and equivalent replacements of the present invention are covered by the contents of the appended claims.

Claims (7)

1. a liquid is accepted to use jockey with conveying, it is characterized in that:

Accept and carry at the described liquid of connect storing liquid storage device that liquid uses and accommodating the liquid receptor that liquid uses from described liquid storage device with the jockey,

Has following structure, coupling part either party or both sides of liquid storage device and liquid receptor comprises valve that is provided with runner and the elastomer that is provided with the hole at least, and with this valve interlocking or be connected in this hole, described elastomeric joint face has protruding sweeping structure

When described valve and described elastomer join, seal described liquid,

When described elastomer was out of shape, the described valve that is in contact with one another separated with described elastomer, and to form the gap, described liquid flows in the runner of described gap and described valve,

Wherein, use jack unit that described valve is crimped on the described elastomer.

2. liquid according to claim 1 is accepted to use jockey with conveying, and wherein, the reverse side of described elastomeric described joint face has recessed sweeping structure.

3. liquid according to claim 1 is accepted to use jockey with conveying, it is characterized in that having labyrinth on described elastomeric joint face.

4. liquid according to claim 1 is accepted to use jockey with conveying, and wherein, in the interface of described elastomer and described valve, either party or both sides of described elastomer and described valve have labyrinth.

5. liquid according to claim 1 is accepted use jockey with carrying, and wherein, described liquid receptor is that to make fuel cell and described liquid storage device that fuel generates electricity with liquid be liquid fuel box.

6. liquid according to claim 1 is accepted to use jockey with conveying, wherein, as employed fuel in fuel cell, adopts the liquid that contains methyl alcohol at least.

7. liquid according to claim 1 is accepted use jockey with carrying, and wherein, described liquid is accepted and carried the amount of infusion of using jockey for per hour smaller or equal to 100 milliliters.

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